Herman Potočnik - Engineers, Birthday and Facts
Herman Potočnik's Personal Details
Herman Potočnik was a Slovenian rocket engineer who is most remembered for his outstanding contribution in the field of space travel.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 22, 1892 |
| Died on | August 27, 1929 |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Famous | Engineers, Electrical Engineers |
| Siblings | Adolf Potočnik, Franci Potočnik, Gustav Potočnik |
| Known as | Herman Potocnik, Hermann Noordung |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Pula |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Jožef Potočnik |
| Mother | Minka Potočnik |
| Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
| Born in | Pula |
| Famous as | Engineer |
| Died at Age | 36 |
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Herman Potočnik's photo
Who is Herman Potočnik?
Herman Potočnik was a Slovenian rocket engineer who is most remembered for his outstanding contribution in the field of space travel. Born to Slovene parents in Pula, he was one of the five children in his family. His father served as a naval officer and doctor for the Austrian army but passed away when Herman was just two years old. His mother moved the family to Maribor where he received his primary education and later went on to attend military schools. Characterized as determined, confident, serious and aspiring, he served in a railway corps as a first lieutenant during the First World War. After retiring from the army due to illness, he completed his engineering and electro-technical studies in Vienna with specialization in rocket technology. Thereafter, he conducted extensive research on the rocket science and space technology, later sharing his knowledge and futuristic vision in his sole literary work which he wrote on his death bed. His book presented the first strategic plan for the human exploration of space with revolutionary ideas of the geo-stationary satellite and the manned space station. His innovative techniques, ideas, and many predictions enjoy increasing confirmation with each new extra-terrestrial accomplishment in the modern era. A visionary with an extraordinary technological imagination, Herman Potocnik is remembered today as a pioneer of astronautics
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Childhood & Early Life
Herman Potočnik was born on December 22, 1892, in the Austria-Hungarian port of Pula located in southern Istria, to Jožef, a doctor and high navy officer in the Austro-Hungarian Navy harbour of Pula, and his wife, Minka, a descendant of Czech immigrants.
His family belonged to Slovene ethnicity and originated from Lower Styria in Austria-Hungary. He had two brothers, Adolf and Gustav, and a sister, Frančiška.
In 1866, his father took part in the second Battle of Vis, and later served as a general in the Austro-Hungarian Army. In 1894, his father died and the family moved to Maribor.
He spent most of his childhood years in Maribor and supposedly in Vitanje, the birthplace of his mother. After receiving his primary education from local schools in Maribor, he attended the military secondary schools in Fischau and Hranice (Mährisch-Weißkirchen) in Moravia.
His uncle Heinrich served as a Major-General in the Army, and possibly facilitated Herman’s education at the Austrian military schools.
Between 1910 and 1913, he attended the technical military academy in Mödling in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and graduated as an engineers second lieutenant with specialization in building railways and bridges.
Career
During the First World War, while stationed at Galicia, Serbia and Bosnia, Herman Potočnik worked as an expert for bridge and railway constructions.
In 1915, he was elevated to the rank of First Lieutenant and was commissioned to the southwestern front of the Soča battlefield.
In 1919, after contracting incurable tuberculosis of lungs during the war, he retired from Austrian military with the rank of Captain.
Then, he attended the University of Technology in Vienna and completed studies in machinery and electric technology, graduating as an engineer in 1925. After obtaining PhD in engineering, he focused on rocket science and completely immersed himself in the research of space technology.
In 1929, Herman Potočnik published a book titled ‘The Problem of Space Travel’ under the pseudonym Noordung. The book was way ahead of its time and presented numerous solutions that would enable humans to live in outer space. It considered space travel not as mere day-dreaming but as a very real technological possibility.
Major Works
His 1929 book, Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums - der Raketen-Motor (The Problem of Space Travel - The Rocket Motor), made a significant contribution to rocket technology. The book devised a plan for the establishment of a permanent human presence in the space. It conceived a detailed design for a space station and described how the special conditions of space could be useful for scientific experiments. He was the first man to recognize the significance of the geostationary orbit, on which the station would orbit the Earth, and also made first detailed calculations of this orbit.
Personal Life & Legacy
Due to his chronic illness, Herman Potočnik decided to remain a bachelor and lived with his brother, Adolf, in Vienna.
While living on the verge of poverty, his illness progressed quickly. He wrote his sole book literally on his death bed.
Herman Potočnik died of pneumonia on August 27, 1929, at the age of 36, in Vienna, Austria, and was buried there.
Asteroid 19612 Noordung, discovered in 1999 at the Črni Vrh Observatory, is named in his honor.
In 2006, the Herman Potočnik Noordung Memorial Centre (HPNMC) was built in Vitanje, Slovenia.
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Herman Potočnik biography timelines
- // 1866 To 1894In 1866, his father took part in the second Battle of Vis, and later served as a general in the Austro-Hungarian Army. In 1894, his father died and the family moved to Maribor.
- // 22nd Dec 1892Herman Potočnik was born on December 22, 1892, in the Austria-Hungarian port of Pula located in southern Istria, to Jožef, a doctor and high navy officer in the Austro-Hungarian Navy harbour of Pula, and his wife, Minka, a descendant of Czech immigrants.
- // 1910 To 1913Between 1910 and 1913, he attended the technical military academy in Mödling in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and graduated as an engineers second lieutenant with specialization in building railways and bridges.
- // 1915In 1915, he was elevated to the rank of First Lieutenant and was commissioned to the southwestern front of the Soča battlefield.
- // 1919In 1919, after contracting incurable tuberculosis of lungs during the war, he retired from Austrian military with the rank of Captain.
- // 1925Then, he attended the University of Technology in Vienna and completed studies in machinery and electric technology, graduating as an engineer in 1925. After obtaining PhD in engineering, he focused on rocket science and completely immersed himself in the research of space technology.
- // 1929In 1929, Herman Potočnik published a book titled ‘The Problem of Space Travel’ under the pseudonym Noordung. The book was way ahead of its time and presented numerous solutions that would enable humans to live in outer space. It considered space travel not as mere day-dreaming but as a very real technological possibility.
- // 1929His 1929 book, Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums - der Raketen-Motor (The Problem of Space Travel - The Rocket Motor), made a significant contribution to rocket technology. The book devised a plan for the establishment of a permanent human presence in the space. It conceived a detailed design for a space station and described how the special conditions of space could be useful for scientific experiments. He was the first man to recognize the significance of the geostationary orbit, on which the station would orbit the Earth, and also made first detailed calculations of this orbit.
- // 27th Aug 1929Herman Potočnik died of pneumonia on August 27, 1929, at the age of 36, in Vienna, Austria, and was buried there.
- // 1999Asteroid 19612 Noordung, discovered in 1999 at the Črni Vrh Observatory, is named in his honor.
- // 2006In 2006, the Herman Potočnik Noordung Memorial Centre (HPNMC) was built in Vitanje, Slovenia.
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Herman Potočnik's FAQ
What is Herman Potočnik birthday?
Herman Potočnik was born at 1892-12-22
When was Herman Potočnik died?
Herman Potočnik was died at 1929-08-27
Where was Herman Potočnik died?
Herman Potočnik was died in Vienna
Which age was Herman Potočnik died?
Herman Potočnik was died at age 36
Where is Herman Potočnik's birth place?
Herman Potočnik was born in Pula
What is Herman Potočnik nationalities?
Herman Potočnik's nationalities is Croatian
Who is Herman Potočnik siblings?
Herman Potočnik's siblings is Adolf Potočnik, Franci Potočnik, Gustav Potočnik
What was Herman Potočnik universities?
Herman Potočnik studied at Vienna University of Technology
Who is Herman Potočnik's father?
Herman Potočnik's father is Jožef Potočnik
Who is Herman Potočnik's mother?
Herman Potočnik's mother is Minka Potočnik
What is Herman Potočnik's sun sign?
Herman Potočnik is Sagittarius
How famous is Herman Potočnik?
Herman Potočnik is famouse as Engineer